Idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Question 1

Risk factors?

Answer 1

obese women of childbearing age.

meds ( retinoids, tetracyclines, growth hormone).

Question 2

Clinical features?

Answer 2

headache, visual abnormalities (blurry vision, diplopia, vision loss, optic disk edema [enlarged blind spot]), pulsatile tinnitus, palsy of the abducens nerve ( CN VI) ( lateral rectus palsy), papilledema.

Question 3

diagnosis?

Answer 3

neuroimaging.

lumbar puncture: elevated opening pressure.

Question 4

treatment?

Answer 4

weight loss.

acetazolamide.

Question 5

initial evaluation?

Answer 5

complete ocular examination and neuroimaging to exclude secondary causes of intracranial hypertension (ex: mass, hemorrhage). MRI, often with venography to rule out cerebral vein thrombosis, preferred imaging modality, however, CT is generally faster and easier to obtain in emergencies.

Question 6

After a space occupying lesion is excluded, LP can be performed safely

Answer 6

and indicated to document elevated opening pressure (>250 mm H2O).

Question 7

cerebrospinal fluids studies ( cell counts)

Answer 7

normal